Today's podcast covers:

〜てもいいですか — May I...? Is it okay if I...?

This pattern is used to ask for permission to do something. It is formed by attaching to the tay-form of a verb, making it a polite way to request allowance for an action.

Example: ここに座ってもいいですか？ May I sit here?

Vocabulary:

• ここに — here
• 座って — sit
• も — even, also
• いいですか — is it okay?

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Today's podcast covers:

です — is, am, are (polite copula)

This is a polite copula used at the end of sentences to link a subject to a noun or adjective, similar to 'to be' in English. It marks a formal or polite speech level and is one of the most fundamental building blocks of Japanese grammar.

Example: これはペンです。 This is a pen.

Vocabulary:

• これは — this (topic marker)
• ペンです — is a pen

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Today's podcast covers:

〜たり 〜たりする — doing things like A and B, alternating or listing multiple actions

This grammar pattern is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive way, implying there are other similar activities as well. It is formed by attaching tari to the ta-form of verbs or adjectives and closing with suru. The sound changes to da after certain sounds.

Example: 週末は音楽を聴いたり、本を読んだりします。 On weekends, I do things like listen to music and read books.

Vocabulary:

• 週末は — on weekends
• 音楽を — music (object marker)
• 聴いたり — listen (listed action)
• 本を — book (object marker)
• 読んだりします — read, and so on (closing the pattern with suru)

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